Christmas and 2009

Christmas was very nice this year and we kept it fairly simple which was nice. We drove down to Seattle Christmas day and stayed in a hotel so we could fly out early the next morning for Boise. The girls were so excited this year and as a parent this just gets to be so much fun when the kids get old enough to really know what's going on and grasp the concept of time a little better. They were very happy with what they received and were very sweet about having to leave it all behind while we travelled. Haylee was most excited about her new pj's....she had been asking for months to have jammies with feet and I can not count how many times she reminded me that is what she wanted. Grace went for the older look this year and just got some new pants instead of the set, they are the cutest pants though she did good.


Here is the Santa lay out.

We did a small family exchange this year between the five of us and that was Gavins only present this year, a piano from big sister Grace. :)

He was so sick, but was still bangin' away.

Christmas morning came EARLY!!!!

I found these little handheld racing games at Walmart for $1.00 and I swear that is what they played with the longest. (isn't that always how it goes?)

Haylee got her cupcake party set that is SO cute and she has already busted it out and made muffins.

She is so girly and so much fun.

This is a hit so far, they have played it every day.

After cleaning and packing up we made the trip to the car..........yes to the CAR!!!

This is looking back up at our house from down the street.

Going through the houses down to the main road.

Almost there.................

I think I see it...whew, we made it!

The flight was on time the next morning.....bright and early at 6:15 we were on our way.

These kids love to fly.

They were so good.

We made it to Grandmas for Christmas #2, Grace was really excited about he legos if you can't tell.

A drum for the little man.

I think just about every picture I took Haylee had her jammies on......I told you she was excited.

Gavin with hair..........nice!

We met with my family for the first time in a LONG time and it was really great to see everyone all in one place. My brothers got permission for us to use their church building and it was a perfect spot for the kids to run crazy upstairs while the adults got to sit and visit downstairs. My sister Sarah was the only one that did not make it this year and she was REALLY MISSED!!! (yes she reads my blog) This picture is (from left) my sister Heather who lives in Colorado, my brother in law Rodney who is married to Heidi (in the red) and then my sister on law Renee who is married to my brother KC who has his back turned. I really did a poor job this year overall of getting pictures and I am a bit bummed about that. Heather is holding our newest nephew Porter.

This is my niece Kelley with Gavin.
Porter

Grace and Collin......it has been a while since we have seen him and she was SO excited!! We spent so much time with him and my sister Gretchen when the kids were little and we were still in Boise and it was hard to leave them. :( He is such a sweet boy. This is my nephew John and his wonderful girlfriend Liz, they are holding Gavin so no babies of their own....YET! ;)

Haylee, Tekyiah, and Grace

We played some mean games of BINGO and this was the contribution to the white elephant prizes from Justin and I, what a steal huh????? I'm sure they will love it for their dining room table.

Every year since Grace was little we have gone to the Botanical Gardens to look at the Christmas lights. It really does get better every year and we have always managed to go when the weather is decent and the kids always have a ball. This year we saw carolers for the first time and that was fun.
All the kiddos......the littlest ones are attached. ;)
Wendy you are such a wonderful Mom, this little peanut really is just the sweetest tempered little thing.

Grace and Miley Addie bug The kids were singing carols of their own.

He loved the lights, and of course had to touch them.

We had a very fun girls day and went to lunch then off to get pedicures and manicures.Two pretty ladies.

Peyton getting her first taste of spa life.

Gavin really wanted that water You are beautiful my sweet sister. This is the babies getting very tired and bored after a while.
Gavin thought he would try and eat her headband...........Her face is priceless..........

We got to meet my brother Isaiah's fiance Liz for the first time and her daughter Providence, they are super sweet and Isaiah seems very happy. "Congratulations you guys!!"

We attempted to take some pictures of all the Ellersick grandkids and with the ages being what they are I think we can't really complain.

The girls got to go with Grandma and have their fingernails painted which was so fun for them...Grace is already asking when she will be old enough for pedicures. ;(

We went to my sisters one night for prime rib and Wii, that was a lot of fun. We even got my Dad up to bowl, it was pretty funny. Gavin loved Molly (the lab) and she was so good natured she just layed there while Gavin loved on her. This is big cousin Collin, there are very few boys in this next generation of grandkids for both sides of the family so it's fun to see them together.

The girls are already asking for a Wii......great!

My Dad played in a bowling league for a long time so he was taking it all pretty serious. This is the kids' really big cousin Mark who everyone says Gavin takes after....I'm okay with that though because he's pretty great! ;)

Gotta love this little guy!

We did New Years at my Moms this year and had a BALL!! The game we played was so much fun and by the end we were all hysterical. We had to go back to Mike and Bonnies the next night and teach everyone, and of course by the end we were all laughing again. :) It was so nice to see all of our family and let the kids catch up with their cousins and grandparents. Thank you Mike, Bonnie, Mom, Mark, and Dad for all your help and letting us invade for the week. Thank you to all of you who had us over and Heidi for keeping Grace for the night....it was the highlight of her trip. :) We love you all and hopefully will get to see most of you this summer. Happy New Year!!!!!